09-2013

In July, a little-known weather pattern occurs in Costa Rica which offers extraordinary opportunities for wildlife lovers. Early rains throughout May and June cause an eruption of flowering trees and fruits, which attract large numbers of animals. By July the rains taper off in a month-long phenomenon called veranito ("little summer"), leaving cooler temperatures that cause wildlife to be more active and visible. We tend to see more volume of wildlife as well as more rare and endangered

May 14, 2013 If you have animal-crazy kids, there comes a point where watching re-runs of Animal Planet and endless visits to the zoo to see the baby marmosets AGAIN will no longer appease them. Its time to take them to see the real thing! We've selected our Top 7 Trips for Animal-Crazy Families based on careful criteria: activities that are kid-friendly but not commercial, a diversity of experiences that appeal to kids sensibilities and attention spans, and 23 years of feedback from fami

As a kid growing up in New York, my parent's commitment to traveling with me and my sister transformed our lives. It exposed me to new perspectives, and gave me respite from the small and sometimes cruel social world of high school. The farther I went away from home, the more it challenged me to see myself differently than the kids at school did. I saw people who had none of the material possessions we did, but were bursting with joy. I met local people whose values seemed inconceivable to me

June 20, 2013 When I first scouted the Tambopata Reserve in South-Eastern Peru in the early 90's it was sheer luck that I happened to be there in early October, during the peak activity of the world's largest macaw and parrot clay lick. During September and October, the number of birds at the lick swells to upwards of 1,000, with five species of macaws and 15 species of parrots and parakeets. The sky is literally full of color and sound! It was one of the first times I remember feeling li

July 19, 2013 Last week I sat down to dinner in San Francisco with renowned India wildlife expert Raj Sinh, author of the top 3 best selling India field guides, and the country manager for both Wild Planet Adventures and National Geographic Adventures. Over tapas in the Mission district, we discussed the fate of tigers and some recent good news - the first in many years - for those considering a tiger safari in the approaching season. While the fate of the world's tiger populations remain